Betfair vs bet365: Which Bookmaker is Best?

Betfair and Bet365 have gone from being turn-of-the-millenium start-ups to major players in the UK betting market. I’m here to compare them and fill you in on which one comes out on top.

Both founded in 2000, the sites have seen significant success. Betfair revolutionised sports betting with its exchange, allowing people to set their own odds, for want of a better phrase, be the bookmaker. Meanwhile, Bet365 started out in Stoke-on-Trent and has become a powerhouse global brand, drawing in around £3.5 billion in revenue year-on-year.

Let’s take a look at both Betfair and bet365 and see how they match up:

How Betfair and bet365 compare

I’ll get down to the nitty-gritty later, but let’s start by comparing some key facts about Betfair and bet365:

Betfair vs bet365 welcome bonus

You can get welcome bonuses when you sign up as a new member with both Betfair and bet365. If you use the Betfair bonus code ZBHC01, you can get £50 in free bets when you bet £10.

If, on the other hand, you use the bet365 bonus code ODDSPEDIA, you can get £30 worth of free bets when you bet £10. This deal is also available as a bet365 mobile offer.

Although Betfair’s bonus is more generous, its qualifying bet odds are 1/1. bet365’s qualifying bet odds are only 1/5, so there is a lot more flexibility there. That said, remember that free bets only pay out the winnings, so you probably wouldn’t use them on those low-odd events anyway.

Personally, I prefer Betfair’s welcome bonus because the total value of £50 is above the industry average of £30.

Verdict: Betfair

Betfair vs bet365 sports coverage

bet365 offers lines on 32 sports, while Betfair has them for 24. In addition to the sports themselves, both sites have TV and entertainment odds, political odds, esports coverage and virtual sports too.

The additional sports that bet365 offers include speedway, surfing, winter sports and badminton. With the exception of badminton, these are quite niche. If you usually stick to the major sports like football and rugby, I think Betfair’s coverage is adequate.

Both sites offer live streaming, but there is no doubt that bet365’s is more comprehensive. Betfair’s live streams tend to focus on football, horse racing and tennis. They’re not bad, but I think the variety at bet365 is significantly better. In fact, I would say that bet365 on the whole has better coverage.

Verdict: bet365

Betfair vs bet365 odds

When I make a bet, I like to shop around for the best odds possible. When it comes to working out who has the best odds between Betfair vs bet365, I took a snapshot of each site’s Premier League odds for one set of matches. bet365’s had an average over-round of 6.2%, while Betfair’s average was almost triple at 16.18%! I was surprised by this, but keep in mind that odds fluctuate and Betfair will inevitably have better odds for bet365 on some events.

That said, this difference in odds prices gives Bet365 a distinct advantage.

Verdict: bet365

Betfair vs bet365 betting apps

Both Betfair and bet365 have betting apps on Android and iOS. The apps both score an average 4.7 user review on iOS. On Android, however, the bet365 review has an average 4.6 stars and the Betfair review comes slightly behind, with an average rating of 4.5.

If I had to pick just one, I think I’d choose Betfair. I like its clean and simple look, and I think finding out how many people have created specific accumulator bets is a nice touch. That said, both do the job perfectly well, and I think the user ratings speak for themselves.

Though I prefer the design of the Betfair app, I’ve also been using the bet365 one for years on an iPhone 14. The reliability, speed, and ease of navigation is excellent. Both apps have similar load times and both offer full-optimisation on mobile, so you can access all the features that you would on a desktop. For me, this category is probably a tie.

Verdict: Tie

Betfair vs bet365 promotions for existing customers

With the bookmaking market being as crowded as it is, sports betting sites need to have some special offers to keep people interested. Right now, Betfair customers can get a free tennis bet when they place a bet builder accumulator, and they also have a 90 minute guarantee and a rewards program.

Meanwhile, bet365 offers include an early payout if a football match reaches a 2-0 scoreline, bet boosts, acca boosts, and sub on play on to protect your bet if your chosen player is substituted.

Personally, I prefer Betfair’s promotions and offers because I’ve noticed more free bets available. They tend to be based around specific sports, and if you bet £5 or £10, you’ll receive a free bet in return. For a low-stakes player like me, these free bets make a big difference.

Verdict: Betfair

Betfair vs bet365 payment options

Betfair and bet365 both have a variety of deposit and withdrawal options for customers. Betfair has a slightly higher range, and you can even put cash on your account at a Paddy Power branch. That said, there are still plenty of ways to deposit and withdraw with bet365 and its Apple Pay facility gives you instant withdrawals. I’d say Betfair just about wins out for me here.

Verdict: Betfair

Betfair vs bet365 casino and poker

Both Betfair and bet365 offer casino and poker gambling integrated within their main sports betting apps. I’m more of a sports bettor myself, but I appreciate that some people are looking for all-round gambling.

Betfair has more than 30 slot games and a live casino which offers roulette and blackjack. Poker players can also play Texas Hold ‘Em. Meanwhile, bet365 has hundreds of games and a live casino with roulette, baccarat and blackjack. Poker players can enjoy classic Texas Hold ‘Em too. All in all, bet365 has a better variety of casino games by a stretch, but both sites are much of a muchness when it comes to poker.

Verdict: bet365

Betfair vs bet365 customer support

Both Betfair and bet365 offer sound customer support options including around-the-clock live chats. bet365 has an email address you can contact with any queries about your account. Additionally, both sites have telephone numbers which you can call toll-free. For me, I would say that bet365 has the more flexible customer support, but only by a fraction.

Verdict: bet365

Final verdict

No matter which way you look at things, Betfair and bet365 are two of the best betting sites out there. Personally, I prefer bet365’s range of sports, customer support, and odds. On the other hand, Betfair has a nice iOS app, a heightened welcome bonus, and plenty of free bet offers for returning customers. Let’s not forget its exchange, either.

The truth is, I use both sites. While bet365 often has the best odds, the free bets at Betfair make sticking around well worth my while. Which is best?

In my opinion, bet365 has an edge. Though you have a lower welcome bonus and less payment options, the significantly lower overround on odds means I find better value at bet365. Both sportsbooks are similar, and deciding which comes out on top often means splitting hairs. Nevertheless, bet365 is, for me, a slightly better all-rounder.

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